IT202100029753A1 - A method of packing articles into boxes and a packing device operating in accordance with that method - Google Patents

Description

Method of packaging articles in boxes and packaging device operating according to this method. The present invention concerns a method and a device for packaging articles in boxes, particularly suitable for packaging articles in accordance with a process in which? the formation of the box around the item to be packaged is envisaged, known in the sector as the "wrap-around" process.

The content of the following patent applications, filed on the same date by the same Applicant, is? considered herein in full:

- Italian patent application entitled ?Method of packaging articles in boxes and packaging device operating according to this method? - practice reference PBI17743;

- Italian patent application entitled ?Apparatus and Process for the winding formation of a box? - practice reference PBI17745; - Italian patent application entitled ?Process and apparatus for the winding formation of a box? - practice reference PBI17746; - Italian patent application entitled ?Device and method for packaging articles in boxes? - practice reference PBI17747; and - Italian patent application entitled ?Method for operating on products? - practice reference PBI17748.

The present invention finds a favorite, even though non-exclusive, application in the box packaging sector of variable geometry and relatively delicate items, such as bags of cereal flakes, a sector to which it can be applied? later refer without losing generality.

In particular, in the relevant technical sector, ? It is known that items are packaged inside a box in two ways. distinct.

A first modality? involves an initial phase of forming a box, open at least at one end, the subsequent insertion of the item to be packaged into the open box, and then the closing of the end. open. A second mode? instead, the box is formed by wrapping a blank, for example a shaped and creased cardboard, around a mandrel made of rigid material, for example metal, containing the item to be packaged. This mode? involves the blank being wrapped around the mandrel so as to form a box closed laterally but open at one end, from which the mandrel is then extracted leaving the article inside the newly formed box. Also in this case, the extremity? open can? be conveniently closed, so? that the packaging is like this? completed can be sent to the final stages of packaging and shipping to the points of sale.

In this description as well as in the claims attached to it, some terms and expressions are considered to assume, unless otherwise explicitly indicated, the meaning expressed in the following definitions.

With the term ?article? means any product capable of being packaged in boxes.

The articles can have a predefined geometric shape or can have a variable geometry.

Preferably, the items are food and confectionery items, loose or contained inside bags or other types of wrapping, such as cereal bags or coffee capsules? or other infusion drinks, single chocolates (wrapped or naked), sweets, pouches containing solid, liquid or semi-solid food items; furthermore, articles from the ceramic industry, absorbent articles for hygienic use, articles from the tobacco industry, articles from the cosmetics industry, articles from the pharmaceutical industry, articles from the "personal & home care" industry.

With ?packaging? of one or more? items in a box, means obtaining a box containing said one or more? articles. This packaging can be obtained by inserting one or more? items in a box already? formed or, preferably, can? be obtained by forming a box around one or more? items to contain.

With ?chuck? we mean a container capable, on the one hand, of receiving and supporting the item to be packaged and, on the other hand, of providing effective feedback for folding the blank when wrapped around it. For this purpose, it is specified that the acceptance and support of the article does not in itself imply that the article must be entirely accommodated inside the mandrel or completely supported by it, but? it is sufficient that it is so when the blank is wrapped around the mandrel.

Likewise, it is specified that even the verification of the blank does not in itself imply? that the blank is met for its entire surface by the mandrel, but? it is sufficient that it is sufficiently folded to allow the correct folding necessary for the formation of the box.

The chuck can be made up of a single component, or a plurality? of units?. The latter can be directly connected to each other or they can be ?units? separate?, with this expression meaning distinct spindle portions (units), not directly connected to each other, and preferably moveable independently of each other.

A chuck? ?composed? from the units? separated when the latter are mutually positioned in such a way as to correctly fulfill the functions of the spindle indicated above, that is? accommodate and support the item to be packaged and provide effective feedback for folding the blank. On the contrary, a mandrel appears ?discomposed? in its units? separated when not? more? capable of correctly carrying out its functions of receiving and supporting the article and checking the blank.

With ?blank? means a shaped sheet of suitable material and thickness suitable for being wrapped by folding around a mandrel to form a box.

Preferably, the blank ? made of cardboard.

Preferably, the blank has a thickness of at least 0.2 mm, more? preferably less than 4 mm. Most preferably, the blank has a thickness between 0.25 mm and 1.6 mm, more preferably between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, even more? preferably between 0.4 and 0.8 mm.

A ?fold line? of a blank? a predefined line around which ? provided that two portions of the blank rotate relative to each other so as to fold the blank, preferably around the mandrel. The fold line can? be a virtual line even? default.

The fold line? preferably defined by a weakening line obtained on the blank, such as for example a crease, or an incision or a plurality? of aligned holes.

In general terms, a first element ?matches? a second element when the first element touches the second element and ? capable of at least partially opposing a relative displacement of the first element against the second element.

In particular, a fold line ? ?found? by a component of the packaging device, such as a mandrel or a bending element, when the component, in order to bend the blank around the fold line, encounters the blank at a distance from the fold line less than 10 times the thickness of the blank, preferably less than 5 times the thickness of the blank.

In this way the useful and effective distance to effectively find the bending line of a blank? parameterized on the thickness of the blank, which, in general, can? be considered the characteristic that most influences the compliance of the blank during the bending phase.

In consideration of the thickness of the blanks used in the sector of packaging articles in boxes, can it be possible? believe that a fold line is ?found? by a component of the packaging device when the component, in order to fold the blank around the fold line, encounters the blank at a distance from the fold line of less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm.

Two or more? components of a packaging device, such as a mandrel and a folding element, are in ?folding configuration? when, acting on the two portions of blank defined on one side and on the other of a bending line in order to bend a blank, they are at a minimum distance between them less than 20 times the thickness of the blank, preferably less than 10 times the thickness of the blank.

In consideration of the thickness of the blanks used in the sector of packaging articles in boxes, can it be possible? believe that two or more? components of a packaging device are in ?folding configuration? when, acting on both sides of a bending line to bend a blank, they are at a minimum distance between them of less than 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm.

With ?box? does it mean any container suitable for containing a plurality? of articles for the purpose of their packaging, which can be made starting from a blank by folding around a mandrel and subsequent fixing at its edges or panels. Preferably, the box has at least one closed contour section, more preferably? closed laterally around the chuck while the ends? longitudinal are kept open.

The Applicant has preliminarily observed that the wrap-around type packaging process briefly illustrated above allows to obtain significant advantages in terms of flexibility. productive compared to the packaging process with insertion of the item in the pre-formed box. In fact, in the wrap-around packaging process the times to switch from one format to another or to bring new formats into production are significantly reduced.

The Applicant has, however, observed that the wrap-around type packaging process briefly illustrated above is often not very suitable for packaging fragile articles, such as for example bags containing cereal flakes. In fact, the latter can easily break, forming crumbs and dust which lower the quality of the product. of the final product.

In particular, the Applicant has observed how one of the critical phases for the movement of the articles in the box packaging process, during which the articles can be subject to even violent impacts, is constituted by their deposit in the mandrel around which the box.

The Applicant has in fact observed that the articles are often thrown or dropped inside the spindle at high speed. high, resulting from the high capacity? production required.

Has the Applicant therefore imagined using systems for depositing the articles in the lowest spindle? sweets, for example by using pliers that can support the articles from underneath and can then place them directly on the bottom of the chuck.

However, the Applicant has verified that the possibility? to use such article deposit systems was limited by the very shape of the mandrel, which typically? formed by a parallelepiped closed on the bottom and sides and open only at the top for access to the article from above.

In particular, the Applicant verified that a conformation of this type would not have allowed the pliers to free themselves from the article and emerge from the mandrel without interfering with its side walls.

The Applicant therefore perceived that to allow the use of these article deposit systems, the shape of the spindle had to be rethought, while still ensuring the correct performance of its functions, in particular its capacity. to effectively match the blank when wrapped around the mandrel to form a box.

For this purpose, the Applicant has observed that the step of folding the blank around the mandrel is carried out by matching the blank on opposite surfaces with a matching surface of the mandrel and with a folding element of the packaging device.

In particular, the mandrel and the folding element meet the blank in correspondence with one of its folding lines (formed for example by a crease), through respective parallel edges facing each other which in their relative movement are very close to the folding line, to ensure that the blank is bent around the fold line precisely.

However, the Applicant understood that the bending of the blank in correspondence with the bending line could be obtained in an optimal way even when the bending line was not met by the mandrel for its entire extension.

On the basis of this intuition, the Applicant has finally found that a method and device for packaging boxed items which involves folding the blank around the mandrel along a folding line in which the folding line is encountered with an edge of the mandrel only for part of it, while the remaining part of the bending line is not encountered by the mandrel, surprisingly allows to obtain an excellent bending of the blank and at the same time to define new access routes to the mandrel.

In its first aspect, therefore, the present invention is directed to a method of packaging items in boxes.

Preferably, this method includes the step of depositing at least one of said article articles inside a mandrel.

Preferably, this method includes the step of winding a blank around said mandrel so as to form an at least partially closed box around said article deposited in said mandrel.

Preferably, this method includes the step of folding a blank around said mandrel in correspondence with at least one folding line of said blank.

Preferably, this phase of falling back? aimed at forming a box containing said at least one of said articles.

Preferably, said blank ? folded along said folding line, meeting said folding line with an edge of said mandrel only for a first part of said folding line.

Preferably, a second part of said folding line, different from said first part, remains undetected by said mandrel.

Will you notice? that being the fold line found or not found, the sum of the first part of the fold line and the second part of the fold line d? as a result the entire fold line. In other words, the second part of the fold line is ? complementary to the first part. It will also be noted that n? the first part n? the second part are necessarily formed by a single stretch of folding line, but, on the contrary, they can be formed by distinct and separate stretches of folding line.

In a second aspect, the present invention concerns a device for packaging articles in boxes.

Preferably, said device comprises a mandrel configured to accommodate within itself one of said articles and to accommodate a blank when at least partially wrapped outside of said mandrel in order to form one of said boxes.

Preferably, said device comprises a folding element on which? defined an abutment region intended to abut said blank and configured to cooperate with said mandrel to bend said blank around said mandrel when said blank ? positioned between said mandrel and said bending member and when said mandrel and said bending member are positioned together in a bending configuration.

Preferably, said device comprises a movement member configured to move said mandrel with respect to said folding element towards said folding configuration.

Preferably, in said folding configuration, on said abutment region of said folding element? defined at least a first zone that? spaced from an edge of said mandrel facing said abutment region by a first distance sized to be greater than the thickness of said blank.

Preferably, in said folding configuration, on said abutment region of said folding element? defined at least a second zone, which is spaced from any edge of said mandrel facing said abutment region by a second distance greater than said first distance.

Preferably, dictate at least a second zone? adjacent to said first area.

Thanks to these characteristics, the method and the packaging device according to the present solution allow the creation of access openings inside the mandrel even in proximity to it. of a folding line of the blank, while maintaining excellent precision in the folding of the blank, without therefore penalizing the quality? of the box formed around the mandrel.

The movement organ can be any mechanism capable of moving the packaging device along a predefined path and represented by a conveyor driven by electric, or mechanical or pneumatic or hydraulic motors or other similar known systems capable of moving the packaging device along any trajectory, for example straight, curved, closed in a ring, circular.

Examples of moving parts are conveyor belts, robotic arms and carousels.

The present solution, in at least one of the aforementioned aspects, can present at least one of the additional preferred characteristics indicated below.

In some embodiments, said first part of said fold line has a length equal to at least 20% of the length of said fold line, preferably between 40% and 90% of the length of said fold line, plus ? preferably comprised between 50% and 80% of the length of said fold line.

In this way, the optimal conditions are defined to allow adequate access to the mandrel and adequate precision in bending the blank.

In some embodiments, said second fold line portion not encountered by said edge of said mandrel comprises an end region. of said folding line.

In this way ? Is it possible to have an access opening to the mandrel at one of its end regions, or is it? is it possible to fold a blank more? longer than the mandrel. This last case can be useful when you want to form a smaller box? longer than necessary to contain the item, in order to leave free space capable of accommodating any further objects, for example gadgets, which can be inserted into the box in a subsequent processing phase.

Will you notice? that in this case, the biggest box? large could be formed by keeping the same mandrel used to form the smaller box? small normally used to package the item without gadgets.

In some embodiments, said second fold line portion not encountered by said edge of said mandrel comprises a middle region of said fold line.

In this way, ? an access route to the mandrel has been obtained in one of its median regions, which is particularly advantageous for allowing the passage of a gripping member from the outside to the inside of the mandrel and vice versa, to gently deposit the article on the bottom of the mandrel.

Furthermore, the Applicant has verified that if the fold line is ? found by the spindle at both end regions, the quality? of the bending obtained? guaranteed even when the central part of the bending line not found by the mandrel is particularly extensive.

In some embodiments, called blank ? folded along said folding line, meeting with said edge of the mandrel a panel of said blank placed on one side of said folding line and with a folding element, spaced from said edge of the mandrel, another panel of said blank placed on the opposite side of called fold line.

In this way, the blank is folded around the folding line by acting on portions of the blank divided by the folding line (and therefore placed on opposite sides of the folding line), making the mandrel and a suitably shaped bending element cooperate with each other.

The bending element can be made as a fixed or mobile plate suitably positioned so as to pass near the mandrel and suitably configured to encounter a panel of the blank not encountered by the mandrel and fold it against the mandrel.

In some embodiments, called blank ? folded along said folding line, meeting opposite surfaces of said blank respectively with said edge of said mandrel and with said folding element.

In this way, the blank is bent around the fold line by pressing on the opposing surfaces of the blank on one side and the other of the fold line.

Preferably, said fold line ? met entirely by said bending element.

In this way, ? guaranteed that, at least on one side of the blank, the bending line is found for its entire extension, leaving the mandrel freedom? to present "missing" areas, such as recesses or openings, which allow the definition of further access routes inside the spindle.

In some embodiments, said fold line ? formed by a crease or an incision line or a line of holes obtained on said blank.

In this way, the bending of the blank around the desired fold line is ? particularly facilitated. Furthermore, the fold line ? made immediately identifiable.

In an alternative embodiment, the fold line ? a virtual line along which the blank does not present different characteristics of the material.

In some embodiments, called first distance ? less than 10 times the thickness of the blank, preferably less than 5 times the thickness of the blank.

This provides the blank with the necessary space to fold between the mandrel and the bending element.

Preferably, said first distance? less than 10 mm, more? preferably less than 5 mm, even more? preferably less than 3 mm and more preferably about 1 mm.

In some embodiments, called second distance ? greater than 10 times the thickness of the blank, preferably greater than 20 times the thickness of the blank.

In some embodiments, said mandrel includes a side wall configured to abut said blank in said bending configuration.

Preferably, said side wall includes said edge which, in said folding configuration, is facing said first area of said abutment region of the folding element.

In this way, the blank is folded between the edge of a side wall of the mandrel and the abutment region of the folding element.

In some embodiments, in said folding configuration, said abutment region ? facing said edge in correspondence with said first area and said second area? defined by an area of said abutment region protruding longitudinally from said mandrel.

In this way, ? It is possible to fold a blank around its fold line even when the fold line is more? long of the mandrel.

In some embodiments, in said folding configuration, said abutment region ? facing said edge in correspondence with said first area and said second area? defined by an area of said abutment region facing said edge in correspondence with a recess formed on said side wall.

In this way, an access route to the mandrel is formed in correspondence with a median region of its lateral wall, in correspondence with the recess formed thereon.

In some embodiments, said edge, in said folding configuration, is facing said second zone of said abutment region at a distance greater than 20 mm, preferably greater than 30 mm, more preferably greater than 50 mm.

In this way, the recess created on the side wall? deep enough to allow adequate access to the mandrel.

In some embodiments, in said folding configuration, said abutment region ? facing said edge in correspondence with said first area and said second area? defined by an area of said abutment region facing an opening which interrupts said side wall.

In this way, the lateral wall is divided into two distinct and separate portions, further enlarging the access route to the mandrel.

In particular, will you notice? that in this way both edges of the side wall are interrupted and have respective areas in which they do not meet the folding line of the blank.

In some embodiments, said mandrel ? made up of a single element.

In some embodiments, said mandrel ? made up of more unit? separate.

In some embodiments, said opening ? extended along the entire perimeter of a cross section of said mandrel.

In other words, the opening cuts the mandrel transversally into two units. separate.

In some embodiments, called units? separated are brought closer together to compose said mandrel.

In one embodiment said mandrel ? formed by bringing together these units? until they come into direct contact with each other.

In an alternative embodiment, the mandrel is composed by bringing the units closer together? separated without coming into direct contact.

Preferably, said mandrel ? composed by bringing together said plurality? of units? at a distance of less than 200 mm, more? preferably at a distance between 60 mm and 170 mm.

In some embodiments, said packaging device comprises an article feeder equipped with a gripping member for said article. Preferably, said gripping member? configured to deposit said item into said mandrel passing through said recess or opening.

The article feeder can be any device capable of inserting an article into a mandrel, as provided by the prior art. The article feeder can include a gripping member and a system for moving the gripping member.

Examples of article feeders are represented by grippers, clamps, pushers or suction cups (representing the gripping elements) mounted on the arms of a carousel or on robotic arms or on linear actuators.

In some embodiments, said packaging device includes a blank feeder arranged to position a blank between said mandrel and said folding element at a fold line defined on said blank.

The blank feeder can be any device capable of holding a blank, moving the blank to a predefined position, and releasing the blank.

Examples of blank feeders include grippers, clamps or suction cups mounted on carousel arms or robotic arms or linear actuators.

In some embodiments, said movement member includes a carousel arranged to move said mandrel along a predefined, preferably circular, path.

In some embodiments, said bending element comprises a pair of plates between which ? duct called mandrel.

Preferably, said blank ? placed between said bending element and said mandrel at the mouth of said pair of plates.

In some embodiments, said bending element comprises a strip movable along a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the mandrel.

In a further embodiment of the present solution, it is described a method of forming a box with articles, including:

- deposit at least one of the said articles in a mandrel, e

- folding a blank around said mandrel in correspondence with at least one fold line of said blank in order to form a box containing said at least one of said articles,

wherein said fold line includes a first part of said fold line and a second part of said fold line,

and in which said folding includes

- match said first part with an edge of said mandrel e

- do not match said second part with said mandrel.

Please note that some phases of the methods described above may be independent of the execution order reported. Additionally, some steps may be optional. Additionally, some methods steps may be performed repetitively, or they may be performed in series or in parallel with other method steps.

The characteristics and advantages of the present solution will be better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figure 1? a partial schematic and perspective view from above of a first example of a device for packaging articles in boxes made in accordance with the present solution;

- figure 2? a partial schematic view, in perspective from above and front of the packaging device of figure 1;

- figure 3? a schematic side view of a detail of the packaging device of figure 1 in folding configuration;

- figure 4? a front view of a side wall of the mandrel of the packaging device of figure 1;

- figure 5? a front view of a first variant of the packaging device of figure 1;

- figure 6? a front view of a second variant of the packaging device of figure 1.

With initial reference to figures 1 to 4, with 100 ? overall indicated is a packaging device made in accordance with the present solution.

The packaging device 100 ? designed to package one or more? 1 items inside 2 boxes.

The articles 1 are, in this preferred embodiment, bags of loose, granular food products, for example cereal flakes, in particular bags with a longitudinal dimension of approximately 300 mm (exemplary value).

The packaging device 100 includes, in its units? more? general, an article feeder 3, a blank feeder 4 and a?unit? of packaging 5.

The 3 item feeder can be made in any form suitable for picking up an item 1 from an upstream workstation (or from a warehouse) and delivering it to the unit? of packaging 5. For example, the article feeder 3 can? understand a plurality? of gripping members 3a, mounted on a carousel 3b with a vertical axis. The gripping members 3a can include fixed suction cups 6a and a gripper equipped with a pair of movable prongs 6b extended towards each other to hold and support the article 1 laterally and from below.

The blank feeder 4, in turn, is configured to take a single blank 7 from a group of blanks stacked in a hopper and bring it into the unit? of packaging 5. For example, the blank feeder 4 can? understand a plurality? of gripping members 4a mounted on a carousel 4b rotatable around an axis substantially parallel to a vertical direction, generally indicated in the figures by Z.

The unit? of packaging 5 ? arranged to receive the articles 1 from the article feeder 3 and form a box 2 around them starting from a blank 7 supplied by the blank feeder 4.

For this purpose, the unit? of packaging 5 includes a plurality? of spindles 10 all mounted on a carousel 8, rotatable around a vertical axis, so as to be moved along a movement direction F defining a substantially circular path.

In this way, each spindle 10 ? conducted along the circular path between a receiving zone, in which the mandrel 10 receives an article 1 from the article feeder 3, a matching zone, in which the mandrel 10 encounters a blank 7 supplied by the blank feeder 4, a forming area, in which the blank 7 is folded so as to form a box 2 containing the article 1, an unloading area, in which the box 2 containing the article 1 is delivered to the subsequent processing stations and, finally, a return area in which the spindle 10? brought back to the reception area.

In the first embodiment described here, illustrated in figures 1 to 4, each mandrel 10 comprises a first unit 11 and a second unit? 12, distinct and separated from each other, both mounted on an arm 14 extended radially from the carousel 8 and passing underneath a fixed work surface 9 of the unit? of packaging 5.

In particular, the first unit? 11 and the second unit? 12 are mounted on the arm 14 via a respective upright 11a, 11b erected by the arm 14 so as to support the units 11 and 12 on opposite sides of the work surface 9 and above the level defined by it.

With reference to the vertical axis around which the carousel 8 rotates, the first unit? 11 is in a radially internal position with respect to the work surface 9, while the second unit? 12 is in a radially external position with respect to the work surface 9.

The first unit? 11 and the second unit? 12 are substantially identical to each other and are arranged facing each other in a symmetrical manner with respect to the work surface 9.

The first unit? 11 and the second unit? 12 are also moveable with respect to each other between an operating position, in which the two units? 11, 12 are brought closer together, and a non-operational position in which they are moved away from each other, so? to dismantle the mandrel 10.

In particular, the first unit? 11 and the second unit? 12 can be moved along a radial direction of the carousel 8, which, in this case, also corresponds to a longitudinal direction defined on the spindle 10.

In the embodiment described and illustrated here, the two units? 11 and 12 are brought together at a distance of approximately 100-120 mm, thus defining an opening 17 extended along the entire perimeter of the mandrel 10. On the mandrel 10, composed of the two units? 11 and 12 close together, ? identified a bottom 13, defining a support surface on which it is filed the article 1, as well as? a pair of side walls 15 and 16, which delimit the bottom 13 in correspondence with the opposite longitudinal sides. Both the bottom 13 and the side walls 15, 16 are therefore formed by respective portions provided in the first unit. 11 and in the second unit? 12. In particular, the side walls 15 and 16 include respective pairs of portions 15a, 15b and 16a, 16b, in which the portions of each pair are separated from each other by the opening 17.

On each side wall 15, 16 ? furthermore identified a lower edge 18a, substantially coplanar with the bottom 13 and an upper edge 18b, spaced from and substantially parallel to the bottom 13.

In each of the first units? 11 and second unit? 12 ? Furthermore, there is a positioning element 19, of the piston type, which longitudinally delimits the bottom 13 of the mandrel, thus? to be defined in the mandrel 10 a chamber for receiving the article 1 delimited by the bottom 13, by the side walls 15 and 16 and by the positioning elements 19.

The blank 7? made of cardboard with a thickness between 0.4 and 0.8 mm, in this case approximately 0.5 mm, and is suitably shaped to form a box 2 when folded around the mandrel 10.

For this purpose, folding lines 7a are obtained on the blank 7 which divide the blank 7 into a plurality? of panels 7b, 7c intended to form, alone or in combination with each other, the different faces of the box 2.

The fold lines 7a are preferably creases and each pair of adjacent panels 7b, 7c? oscillatable around a respective fold line 7a that separates them.

In particular in blank 7? identified a central panel 7b, intended to be encountered first by the spindle 10, as well as? two panels 7c, extending respectively from the upper side and the lower side of the central panel 7b, and separated from it by respective folding lines 7a.

The unit? of packaging 5 furthermore includes at least one folding element 20 configured to cooperate with the mandrel 10 to fold the blank 7 around the mandrel itself.

In particular, the packaging device 100 can? understand more? folding elements 20, each designed to fold one or more? panels 7b of the blank.

A first example of a folding element 20? represented by a pair of plates 21 positioned on the circular path of the mandrels 10 immediately downstream of the point where the blank 7 is delivered to the unit? of packaging 5 from the blank feeder 4.

The plates 21 are parallel and spaced apart from each other in such a way that the mandrel 10 can pass between them at a close distance H, equal to approximately 1 mm between the two plates 21 and the lower and upper edges 18a, 18b of the side walls 15, 16 of spindle 10.

On each plate 21 ? defined is an abutment region 22 intended to abut the blank 7 when moved by the mandrel 10 against the plates 21.

The feedback region 22 ? extended parallel to the upper and lower edges 18a, 18b of the side walls 15, 16 of the mandrel 10, in other words parallel to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 10.

In particular, in the abutment region 22 of each plate 21 two first zones 23 remain defined which are spaced from a respective lower or upper edge 18a, 18b of the mandrel 10 by a first distance H, equal to approximately 1 mm, and a second zone 24, placed between the two first zones 23, which faces the opening 17 obtained in the mandrel 10.

Will you notice? that the second zone 24, not facing any edge of the mandrel 10, can be considered to be located at an infinite distance from any edge of the spindle facing it.

The packaging device 100 operates as described below.

The carousel 8 rotates around its own vertical rotation axis Z with continuous motion, leading the spindles 10 along a circular path with the first and second units 11 and 12 on the radially opposite sides of the support surface 9. Before the reception area, the first and second units? 11, 12 are brought closer to each other at the distance indicated above so as to form an adequate seat to accommodate an article 1 deposited on the bottom 13 via a gripping member 3a.

Will you notice? that, thanks to the provision of the opening 17, the prongs 6b of the pliers can access the inside of the mandrel 10 to delicately place the article 1 on the bottom 13 without having to let it fall from above. In the example described here? It is expected that box 2 contains a single item 1, however? also foreseen the possibility? to insert a plurality in box 2? of articles 1, which in this case would all be deposited inside the mandrel 10 before being wrapped in the blank 7.

Once article 1 has been deposited, the mandrel 10 is led towards the abutment area with a blank 7, carried by the blank feeder 4 on the path of the mandrel 10, at an interruption point of the work surface 9, right at the entrance of the plates 21.

The blank 7? positioned on a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement F, such that the central panel 7b faces the side wall 15 of the mandrel 10 (figure 2). In particular the central panel 7b? found from the side wall 15 so that the lower and upper edges 18a, 18b are located in correspondence with a respective fold line 7a (spaced no more than a few tenths of a millimetre) which separates the central panel 7b from the lower and upper panels 7c .

The mandrel 10 then pushes the central panel 7b of the blank 7 against the abutment region 22 of the plates 21, and then enters the space between the two plates dragging with it? the central panel 7b determining the folding of the panels 7c towards the mandrel 10 (figure 3).

It follows that, when the mandrel 10 is located between the mouth of the plates 21 and then within the space defined between the plates 21, the mandrel 10 and the plates 21 can be defined in the bending configuration of the blank 7.

As visible in the accompanying figures, each fold line 7a ? entirely met by the abutment region 22 of the plates 21, while, on the side of the mandrel 10, it is found only in correspondence with the lower and upper edges 18a and 18b, while it remains not found in correspondence with the opening 17.

In particular, each folding line 7a is found by the mandrel 10 in its opposite end regions. 7a?, corresponding to approximately 70% of the total extension of the fold line, while it remains undetected in its median region 7a??, corresponding to approximately 30% of the total extension of the fold line.

Upon exiting the pair of plates 27, respective closing members, mounted on the mandrel 10 or on the work surface 9, fold the lower flap 7d and the upper flap 7e protruding respectively from the lower and upper panels 7c of the blank 7 against the side wall 16 of the mandrel 10 so as to close the box 2 laterally, thanks to the provision of glue points on one of the two flaps.

These closing members can be configured in the shape of bars (strips) which descend or ascend vertically with respect to the mandrel.

Will you notice? that these closing members constitute further folding elements 20 of the packaging device 100 on which respective abutment regions are identifiable, configured to meet a respective folding line for its internal extension, in a completely similar way to the abutment regions 22 of the plates 21.

Again in a similar way with the plates 21, also in this case in each of the abutment regions of the closing members two first zones are defined which face a lower or upper edge of the side wall 16 and a second zone which faces the opening 17.

In particular, the two first zones are, in the folding configuration, at a distance of less than 10 mm, more? preferably less than 5 mm, even more? preferably less than 3 mm and more preferably about 1 mm.

Once the lateral closure of box 2 has been completed, the first and second units? 11 and 12 are then extracted longitudinally from the box 2, and this is delivered to the subsequent work stations, while the mandrel 10 is returned to the reception area.

In figure 5? shown is a first variant of the packaging device described above, indicated overall with 200.

Compared to the packaging device 100 described in the previous example, the mandrel 10 has a different conformation of the side walls 15 and 16, which are continuous and rectangular in shape, and both the blank 7 and the plates 21 are extended longitudinally more. of the side walls of the mandrel, so as to protrude longitudinally from one end? of the spindle 10.

In this case, the first zone 23 of the abutment region 22 corresponds to the lower or upper edge 18a, 18b of the side wall 15, while the second zone 24? defined by the portion of the abutment region 22 which protrudes longitudinally from the side wall 15.

Each fold line 7a ? therefore entirely met by the abutment region 22 of the plates 21, while, on the side of the mandrel 10, it is found only at the lower and upper edges 18a and 18b, but remains unfound at one of its end regions? 7th? which is detected only by the second zone 24 of the feedback region 22. In figure 6? shown is a second variant of the packaging device described above, indicated overall with 300.

Compared to the packaging device 100 described in the previous example, the mandrel 10 has a different conformation of the side walls 15 and 16, which have a recess 301 in correspondence with one of its longitudinal sides, in this case the upper side.

Does it follow that the lower edge 18a is continuous and straight, while the upper edge 18b includes a first portion 18b? close to the abutment region 22 and a second portion 18b??, in correspondence with the recess 301, where the abutment region 22 is? distanced.

For example the first portion 18b? ? at a distance from the abutment region 22 of approximately 1 mm, while the second portion 18b?? ? at a distance from the abutment region 22 of approximately 40 mm.

In this case, the first zone 23 of the abutment region 22 of the upper plate 21 is? defined by the portion of the abutment region 22 which faces the first upper edge portion 18b?, while the second area 24? defined by the portion of the abutment region 22 which faces the second portion 18b??.

Each fold line 7a ? therefore entirely met by the abutment region 22 of the plates 21, while, on the side of the mandrel 10, it is found only at the lower edge 18a and the first portion 18b? of the upper edge 18b, while it remains undetected in one of its median regions 7a??, corresponding to the second portion 18b?? of the upper edge 18b.

Naturally, a technician in the field will be able to find the solution described above. make, in order to satisfy specific and contingent application needs, further modifications and variations still falling within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims (18)

1. Method of packing items (1) in box (2) including: - deposit at least one of said articles in a mandrel (10), - fold a blank (7) around said mandrel (10) in correspondence with at least one fold line (7a) of said blank (7), in order to form a box containing said at least one of said articles, in which said blank (7) ? folded along said folding line (7a) meeting said folding line (7a) with an edge (18a, 18b) of said mandrel (10) only for a first part of said folding line (7a), while a second part of said folding line (7a), different from said first part, remains undetected by said mandrel (10). 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first part of said fold line (7a) has a length equal to at least 20% of the length of said fold line (7a). 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first part of said fold line (7a) has a length between 50% and 80% of the length of said fold line (7a). 4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second fold line part (7a) not encountered by said edge (18a, 18b) of said mandrel (10) comprises an end region? (7a?) of said fold line (7a). 5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second part of said fold line (7a) not met by said edge (18a, 18b) of said mandrel (10) comprises a median region (7a??) of said fold line (7a). 6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said blank (7) is? folded along said folding line (7a) meeting with said edge (18a, 18b) of the mandrel a panel (7b) of said blank (7) placed on one side of said folding line (7a) (10) and with an element folder (20), spaced from said edge (18a, 18b) of the mandrel (10), another panel (7c) of said blank (7) placed on the opposite side of said folding line (7a). 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said fold line (7a) is met entirely by said folding element (20). 8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said fold line (7a) is? formed by a crease or an incision line or a line of holes obtained on said blank (7). 9. Packaging device (100; 200; 300) of articles (1) in boxes (2), comprising: - a mandrel (10) configured to accommodate within itself one of said articles (1) and to accommodate a blank (7) when wound at least partially outside of said mandrel (10) in order to form one of said boxes (2 ), And - a folding element (20) on which? defined an abutment region (22) intended to abut said blank (7) and configured to cooperate with said mandrel (10) to bend said blank (7) around said mandrel (10) when said blank (7) ? positioned between said mandrel (10) and said bending element (20) and when said mandrel (10) and said bending element (20) are positioned together in a bending configuration, - a movement member (8) configured to move said mandrel (10) with respect to said folding element (20) towards said folding configuration, wherein, in said folding configuration, on said abutment region (22) of said folding element (20) are defined: - at least a first zone (23) which is? spaced from an edge (18a, 18b) of said mandrel (10) facing said abutment region (22) by a first distance (H) sized to be greater than the thickness of said blank and - at least a second zone (24), adjacent to said first zone (23), which is? spaced from any edge of said mandrel (10) facing said abutment region (22) by a second distance greater than said first distance (H). 10. Device according to claim 9, wherein said first distance (H) is? less than 10 times the thickness of the blank (7) and said second distance ? greater than 10 times the thickness of the blank (7). 11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said mandrel (10) includes a side wall (15, 16) configured to abut said blank (7) in said bending configuration and said side wall (15, 16) includes said edge (18a, 18b) which, in said folding configuration, is facing said first area (23) of said abutment region (22) of the folding element (20). 12. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein, in said folding configuration, said abutment region (22) is? facing said edge (18a, 18b) in correspondence with said first area (23) and said second area (24)? defined by an area of said abutment region (22) protruding longitudinally from said mandrel (10). 13. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein, in said folding configuration, said abutment region (22) is? facing said edge (18b?) in correspondence with said first area (23) and said second area (24)? defined by an area of said abutment region (22) facing said edge (18b??) in correspondence with a recess (301) obtained on said side wall (15, 16). 14. Device according to claim 13, wherein said edge (18b??), in said folding configuration, is facing said second zone (24) of said abutment region (22) at a distance greater than 20 mm. 15. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein, in said folding configuration, said abutment region (22) is? facing said edge (18a, 18b) in correspondence with said first area (23) and said second area (24)? defined by an area of said abutment region (22) facing an opening (17) which interrupts said side wall (15, 16). 16. Device according to claim 15, wherein said mandrel (10) is made up of more unit? (11, 12) separated and called opening (17) ? extended along the entire perimeter of a cross section of said mandrel (10). 17. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 16, comprising an article feeder (3) equipped with a gripping member (3a) of said article, said gripping member being configured to deposit said article (1) in said mandrel (10) passing through said recess (301) or said opening (17). 18. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 17, comprising a blank feeder (4) arranged to position a blank (7) between said mandrel (10) and said bending element (20) in correspondence with a bending line ( 7a) defined on said blank (7).